by our College Data Analytics TeamA major in Arts and Entertainment Law explores An Advanced, Professional Study Of The Law, Policies, And Regulations Affecting The Sports, Fashion, Entertainment, Arts, And Media Industries. Examples: [Entertainment, Arts, And Sports Law], [Fashion Law], [Gaming Law And Regulation], [Sports Law], [Title Ix Compliance]. Continue reading for the key facts every arts and entertainment law major should know — including career paths, salary data, the skills you will develop, and the best colleges offering arts and entertainment law programs.
In the U.S., arts and entertainment law is a popular field of study, with 90 degrees awarded annually.
Our 2026 Best Arts and Entertainment Law Schools ranking analyzes these 1 schools to determine the best overall colleges for arts and entertainment law students. Continue reading to check out one of our many unbiased rankings of arts and entertainment law programs later in this article.
Coursework for Arts and Entertainment Law emphasize a specific mix of skills, knowledge, and abilities — derived from O*NET surveys of workers in the occupations arts and entertainment law graduates commonly enter.
The skill set emphasized by a arts and entertainment law program reflects the day-to-day work of related occupations:
Per O*NET surveys, a arts and entertainment law major emphasizes the following knowledge areas:
There are several arts and entertainment law degree levels. The table below shows the typical length of the most common levels, and how many graduates earn each one.
| Degree | Typical Program Length | Graduates Annually |
|---|---|---|
| Master’s Degree | 1-3 years | 90 |
People currently working in careers related to arts and entertainment law tend to have obtained the following education levels.
| Level of Education | Percentage of Workers |
|---|---|
| First professional degree | 43.2% |
| Doctoral degree | 40.6% |
| Master’s degree | 13.5% |
| Post-master’s certificate | 1.8% |
| Associate’s degree (or other 2-year) | 0.9% |
See the chart below to get an idea of what level of education most of those in arts and entertainment law careers hold.
Source: ONET Online education / training / experience requirements.*
Studying arts and entertainment law prepares you for many career paths. These are some of the most common occupations related to arts and entertainment law.
The following options are some of the most in-demand careers related to arts and entertainment law.
| Occupation | Projected Jobs | Expected Growth |
|---|---|---|
| Law Teachers, Postsecondary | 1,017,747 | -2.9% |
| Lawyers | 155,305 | 2.6% |
The U.S. Department of Education tracks median earnings of arts and entertainment law graduates 1, 4, and 5 years after completion. Wages typically rise as graduates gain experience.
| Years Out | Median Earnings |
|---|---|
| 1 year | $78,306 |
| 4 years | $93,383 |
| 5 years | $107,509 |
Source: U.S. Department of Education College Scorecard, field-of-study earnings tracker.
Salaries for arts and entertainment law graduates vary widely by occupation. The following table shows the top highest-paying careers arts and entertainment law grads often go into.
| Occupation | Median Annual Salary |
|---|---|
| Law Teachers, Postsecondary | $91,726 |
| Lawyers | $73,181 |
With 1 different arts and entertainment law programs to choose from, finding the best fit can be a challenge. We have analyzed these schools to produce unbiased arts and entertainment law school rankings to help you.
Students interested in arts and entertainment law, you may also want to explore other closely related fields of study within the same broad area.
More about our data sources and methodologies.
